Let's hope the governor's schmoozing in Switzerland pays off

In this case, you want your elected officials to hit the cocktail party circuit.Bloomberg takes a look at what states have to gain when their governors — including Ohio's John Kasich — attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which runs Jan. 23-27.“While critics say jetting to the Swiss Alps to schmooze is a waste of time and resources, Kasich and other officials say it offers an unparalleled opportunity for networking that can lead to new business investment,” according to Bloomberg. “It's also a chance to leave behind balancing budgets, fixing roads and other nuts-and-bolts work. Instead, they can discuss such topics as 'unleashing entrepreneurial innovations' and sell the virtues of their states.”Gov. Kasich is participating in four panels at Davos, including one on manufacturing where “he will discuss his efforts to align education and training with available jobs,” Bloomberg notes. “He said he also wants to meet privately with Japanese executives and other leaders to win more jobs for Ohio.”Ned Hill, an economist and dean of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, tells Bloomberg that a trip to Davos can be successful if a governor has an outgoing sales personality.“The important things don't take place on the stage,” Dr. Hill says. “It all takes place in the cocktail parties.”

The country's megabanks are seeing their profits get squeezed, The Wall Street Journalreports, but a “regionally diverse group of smaller lenders has been thriving with a mix of simpler businesses and sharper focus on local customers.”

Troubles at the largest lenders “have helped push some customers to major regional players,” including PNC Financial Services and Fifth Third Bancorp, both of which are big in the Northeast Ohio market.Glenn Gable, who runs Freeway Lanes Bowling Group, a chain of bowling alleys in the Cleveland area, tells The Journal that he tried to get loans from larger banks but was turned away."They weren't interested in lending to someone in the bowling industry," he says.Instead, the newspaper reports, Mr. Gable turned to Fifth Third, which gave him a $7 million credit line."A regional bank doesn't just write you off,” he says. “They spend time getting to know you and your business and looking at your track record," he said.

It's fun to leave Congress! Not only does Steve LaTourette get to start up a lobby shop and make some real money, he's scheduled to appear on tonight's 11th-season premiere of HBO's “Real Time with Bill Maher” as a panelist with CNBC reporter Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and comedian Martin Short.“Real Time” is way more fun than the stuffy Sunday morning shows — there are jokes, and the panelists are allowed to swear.

Components include job, wage-and-salary, and technology growth. In most years, the institute says, “these give a good indication of the underlying structural performance of regional economics.”The rankings look at 200 cities. Canton is northern Ohio's best performer, and it's at No. 149. Youngstown is at No. 158, followed by Akron (No. 172), Cleveland (No. 177) and Toledo (No. 180).Columbus is tops in Ohio, at No. 53. Cincinnati is No. 89, and Dayton is No. 117.

I hope this venture goes well.The Medina Gazette reports that an historic movie theater at 139 W. Liberty St. in Medina, formerly the Rock Theater and before that the Rose, “is back in business with a new name and movies on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.”Dan Andrews, executive director of the nonprofit Medina Community Theater, and his wife, Katharine, have been organizing the remodeling of the 196-seat theater, with the aim of “making this a venue for performing arts and movies,” according to the story.He's making tickets affordable, at $3. Sundays feature “faith-based” films that are free of charge.The paper says $60,000 in upgrades at the theater — paid for by donations, a loan through the nonprofit and proceeds from ticket sales and concessions — include a digital projector, sound system and improved plumbing. A new marquee for the building and fabric for the walls are coming soon, Mr. Andrews says.You also can follow me on Twitter for more news about business and Northeast Ohio.

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